Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Rental and other revenues	$ 187,475	$ 179,417	$ 543,908	$ 538,647
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	64,135	61,153	185,244	180,248
Depreciation and amortization	60,850	57,661	189,514	171,923
Impairments of real estate assets	5,318	0	5,849	0
General and administrative	11,717	9,551	33,658	30,869
Total operating expenses	142,020	128,365	414,265	383,040
Interest expense	20,527	17,437	59,622	53,705
Other income/(loss)	174	818	(3,271)	1,735
Gains on disposition of property	3,515	3	10,218	16,975
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	940	573	2,369	1,641
Net income	29,557	35,009	79,337	122,253
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Operating Partnership	(737)	(902)	(1,974)	(3,171)
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(297)	(324)	(919)	(918)
Dividends on Preferred Stock	(622)	(623)	(1,866)	(1,869)
Net income available for common stockholders	$ 27,901	$ 33,160	$ 74,578	$ 116,295
Earnings per Common Share – basic:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ 1.12
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	103,727	103,471	103,674	103,408
Earnings per Common Share - diluted:
Net income available for common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ 1.12
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,471	106,333	106,425	106,256
Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership [Member]
Rental and other revenues	$ 187,475	$ 179,417	$ 543,908	$ 538,647
Operating expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	64,135	61,153	185,244	180,248
Depreciation and amortization	60,850	57,661	189,514	171,923
Impairments of real estate assets	5,318	0	5,849	0
General and administrative	11,717	9,551	33,658	30,869
Total operating expenses	142,020	128,365	414,265	383,040
Interest expense	20,527	17,437	59,622	53,705
Other income/(loss)	174	818	(3,271)	1,735
Gains on disposition of property	3,515	3	10,218	16,975
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	940	573	2,369	1,641
Net income	29,557	35,009	79,337	122,253
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated affiliates	(297)	(324)	(919)	(918)
Distributions on Preferred Units	(622)	(623)	(1,866)	(1,869)
Net income available for common unitholders	$ 28,638	$ 34,062	$ 76,552	$ 119,466
Earnings per Common Unit - basic:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ 1.13
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - basic (in shares)	106,046	105,866	105,998	105,808
Earnings per Common Unit - diluted:
Net income available for common unitholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ 1.13
Weighted average Common Units outstanding - diluted (in shares)	106,062	105,924	106,016	105,847